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Topping Trees Is Terrible Technique January 19, 2000 I have just returned from visiting my gardening friend, Jimmy Williams, at his home in Paris. The city of Paris is a beautiful place with lovely old buildings and a rich history. The citizens are proud, friendly people who offer warm and gracious hospitality to all visitors. Doesn’t sound like Paris to you? Well, Jimmy’s Paris is located in the heart of Henry County, Tennessee, and the hospitality is definitely Southern. Anyway, as Jimmy and I took a drive around his community, there was something about the picture that bothered me a little. Many of the town’s majestic old trees cast beautiful sillohuettes against the winter sky. But there were also many old trees whose structures were deformed and mutilated, the result of topping. When I mentioned this to Jimmy, he told me there is a belief held by some folks that trees "need" topping. He recalled discussing this with a gentleman who had topped a magnificent old oak in his front yard. The tree stood in an open space far from utility wires and buildings. Jimmy asked him why he had topped the tree. He said, "Well, it needed topping. It had never been topped so I figured I’d better get it done." Paris, Tennessee, of course, is not the only community with this problem. Most towns and villages in our own Henry County, Illinois, have their share of topped specimens as well. The next time you’re out driving, observe the state of the trees as you go from town to town. In some places it looks like the city held a topping contest. One village I pass through occasionally could easily be the Tree Topping Capital of the World. Why does this happen? There are several reasons. A common reason is "everybody does it". A couple folks have their trees topped and others in the neighborhood assume it must be a good idea. In worst case scenarios, municipalities and park departments may top some trees on public property. Local citizens assume the workers must know what they’re doing and follow their bad example. I admit I used to think that topping was just another way to trim a tree. Although I considered a topped tree unattractive, I never thought the process actually harmed the tree. It wasn't until I studied more about how trees grow and heal their wounds that I learned how damaging the process is. Sometimes a tree is topped because the homeowner is afraid it will fall on the house. Other trees may be topped to reduce the amount of leaves to be raked each fall. Topping is sometimes done to "improve" growth and make the tree "bushier". And, unfortunately, some folks are advised to top their trees. Well, none of these are good reasons to top a tree. In fact, I don’t know one good reason to have a tree topped. Tree trimming of any kind costs money, but topping a tree can cost more than correct pruning in the long run. Why? Because the large wounds inflicted when a tree is topped provide many points of entry for insects and diseases. Eventually, the tree will require much more pruning to remove weak, dead, and diseased wood. Complete removal will eventually be required. If you’re going to top a tree and want to save money, make the first cut at ground level. If you think your trees need pruning, don’t get in a hurry unless it is an emergency. Take some time to learn the difference between corrective pruning and topping. The International Society of Arboriculture offers a complete set of brochures covering many of the basic principles of proper tree care. To order consumer education brochures, or to contact a professional arborist or certified arborist in your area, you can contact ISA at P.O. Box 3129, Champaign, IL 61826-3129, or visit the website at www.ag.uiuc.edu/~isa. |
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